Senate Secrecy In Packwood Case Hurts Credibility, Fuels Suspicion

August 9, 1995

The U.S. Senate has dealt its own credibility a severe blow. The other day, members voted 52-48 not to grant public or private hearings to 17 women who have leveled sexual misconduct charges against Sen. Bob Packwood, R-Oregon.

The vote, almost exclusively along party lines, reinforces a suspicion that the Republican leadership is protecting one of its own. Florida's Democratic Sen. Bob Graham backed public hearings; Republican Sen. Connie Mack was opposed.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., called for the full Senate to overrule Senate Ethics Committee procedures and order public hearings. Citing discrepancies between the women's written depositions and Packwood's private testimony, she urged letting the women testify in person to clarify matters. Many past ethical probes have included public hearings.

Opponents, including Ethics Committee Chairman Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the Senate should not interrupt or delay the committee's work. The next day, the committee delayed making final recommendations after learning two more women had made misconduct complaints.

In May, the committee said there was "substantial credible evidence" that Packwood sexually harassed 17 women over 21 years, that he had sought jobs for his wife from lobbyists and that he tampered with evidence by rewriting his diary after learning it might be subpoenaed.

Packwood engaged in a blatant ethical conflict of interest by voting against holding public hearings. He should have recused himself. Senate rules should be changed to forbid such voting conflicts.

The foul odor of unfairness and cover-up tainting this decision should offend every American. Imagine a criminal trial in which the judge lets the defendant to testify in person, but denies that right to 17 key prosecution witnesses.

The case against the Senate Finance Committee chairman is not just about accusations of sexual harassment. It is about alleged abuses of power and violations of the public trust. Governmental secrecy invites a loss of public credibility and a rise in public cynicism, skepticism and suspicion of politicians' motives and methods.

By contrast, openness can boost public credibility in governmental leaders and their actions. Openness is the most effective weapon against official misconduct or cover-up of wrongdoing and the strongest guarantee the public has that its elected leaders are practicing - and enforcing - high standards of ethical conduct.

The full Senate, not just one man, is on trial. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, D-Ill., said it best: To defend secrecy is "to defend the indefensible."